The identity of Oklahoma's starting quarterback is expected to be unveiled next week.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops revealed he hopes to make a decision a week before the season during a Friday interview with ESPN.

Blake Bell and Trevor Knight are the lone candidates to succeed four-year starter Landry Jones, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The two have shared time in practice after sophomore Kendall Thompson, a third contender for the job, went down with a broken foot earlier this month.

Bell has been considered the heir apparent because of his playing experience the past two seasons.

The 6-6, 252-pound junior gained notoriety taking snaps from Oklahoma's Belldozer formation primarily in short-yardage situations and has 24 rushing touchdowns on his 104 career carries.

However, he has attempted just 20 passes and has yet to show the ability to be a consistent passer.

Knight, freshman, sat out last season a redshirt. At 6-1, 201, he is smaller that Bell and brings more athleticsm to the position.

Oklahoma will open its season against Louisiana-Monroe on Aug. 31 before hosting West Virginia in its Big 12 opener the following week.

Stoops doesn't seem concerned that the team hasn't been as inexperience at quarterback since 2007 when Sam Bradford won the job right before the season.

"But at the end of the day, I keep saying this, this isn't our first rodeo," Stoops said earlier this week. "We've done this a lot. We've won eight Big 12 championships with six different quarterbacks, so it hasn't really hurt us a lot. We're trying to get them all ready to play."

Whether it is Bell or Knight behind center, the Oklahoma offense should have a much-different look that focuses on the running game behind a veteran offensive line, rather than rely on throwing.

Jones attempted 555 passes last season, the second-most among all quarterbacks in the Football Bowl Subdivision.